Opinions on male female friendship?

[mangomuncher]

Hi all - asking for opinions on this situation please.

I'm happily married and started a new job about a year ago, which is pretty much my dream job/career. I absolutely love the team and have become friends with them quite quickly. We're often all out for drinks together, group WhatsApp, individual texting etc. There is one man at work who is my age, single and super friendly/smart/funny - overall an enjoyable person to interact with. I do not find him good looking at all. We work closely together and are often emailing throughout the day about necessary work matters. I'd say we were friends & have been for drinks together as a group. A few days ago he expressed exasperation about a work colleague matter that couldn't be discussed over email and I told him to give me a call about it (this would be normal for us).

However he sent a voice note to explain everything to my personal WhatsApp and we've ended up chatting on and off for the last few days, sometimes until 11pmish. Nothing inappropriate at all, sometimes play the messages in front of my DH as they're funny, have mentioned my DH multiple times during the convo. DH unbothered. Does this seem inappropriate? There's nothing flirty at all in the messages but the convo is ongoing. I can't work out if I'm encouraging something I shouldn't be. I guess I usually only develop close female friendships naturally. Colleague is extremely outgoing and chatty to everyone & I'm enjoying the chat because we work in a field that we can't really talk to outsiders about. I'm probably overthinking right? Thanks!

Sorry that should say 'LDR' with DH - long distance relationship, he wasn't in the same city and so I was alone much of the time.

I should add - I am aware of the temptation to keep something going when you feel special and needed, even if you don't want anything more and don't have any inappropriate feelings. It's not sensible or fair and it works a lot better in the long term if you can have an honest conversation about it and get all the elephants out of the room. Unfortunately, in my experience, the man will often deny there's any issue until it does all go to shit. I have one fairly good male friend at the moment and he let slip recently that he thinks about a situation in which we could be married. I've spoken to my female friends about how I want to marry them because I think they're great and it's all in good fun, but this was different. I know he wants to tell me he loves me and this is his man way of doing it but fuck me I'm so bored of dealing with men's inability to understand their own bloody feelings!

See if this was a women saying about her mam chatting to another women until all
Hours it would be a different story . From experience of feelings getting involved weather it be you or him I would cut down on the talking .